By NATARIO McKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net
The Bahamas enjoyed growth of more than 30 per cent in intra-Caribbean travellers year-over year for the first three quarters of 2014, according to Expedia, and is among the top destinations in the region for attracting these visitors.
The Expedia group, one of the world’s largest online travel companies, revealed that intra-Caribbean travel is on the rise, with a 50 per cent increase in demand during the first three quarters of 2014 when compared to the same period last year.
Intra-Caribbean travellers are defined as those whose origins and destination are both in the Caribbean region. According to Expedia’s data, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas lead the Caribbean in attracting intra-Caribbean travellers.
“The Bahamas is reporting a growth of more than 30 per cent in terms of year-over-year intra-Caribbean growth in the first three quarters of 2014 when compared to the same timeframe in 2013,” Demetrius Canton, director of Caribbean Lodging Partner Services for the Expedia group told Tribune Business.
Mr Canton said the trend of intra-Caribbean travel is expected to continue, with enhanced connectivity within the region in 2015.
“Hoteliers in the region have a unique opportunity to exceed their commercial objectives when partnering with Expedia group, as our marketing and technology capabilities allow us to offer valued partners access to customers on both a global and local scale,” Mr Canton added.
As to what factors have contributed to the spike in intra-Caribbean travel, Mr Canton said: “We believe this substantial growth in intra-Caribbean travel can be attributed to a range of factors, including hoteliers who are generating demand via Expedia’s latest technologies, powerful marketing platforms and valuable market intelligence.
“The Expedia group made a substantial financial investment on marketing efforts last year, with a focus on further enhancing mobile technologies which support in the acquisition of new customers, while also driving demand.”
According to Expedia, the Dominican Republic, Barbados and the Cayman Islands have seen the most substantial growth in intra-Caribbean travel.
The top five Caribbean markets reporting substantial year-over-year intra-Caribbean growth in the first three quarters of 2014, when compared to the same timeframe in 2013, include the Dominican Republic, with more than 70 per cent growth; Barbados, with more than 60 per cent growth; the Cayman Islands, with more than 50 per cent growth; Puerto Rico, with nearly 50 per cent growth and Trinidad and Tobago, with more than 40 per cent growth.
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